Getting old

[mward69]

I hope I haven't re-started an old thread, but I have been reading sooo much all over this site, my eye's are hurting
So I have been playing about 15yr, I'm 37 and work as an electrician in the day. My hands have suffered! I get cramped up on some nights playing out, other nights I am all over the fretboard. My forearm muscles knot up unless it's really hot on stage, my bands thinks I'm nuts for wearing long sleeves or wrist bans in the GA heat...lol
Am I alone with this, I asked a doctor about it and he refered to it as musicians tendentious, piano players, Cello, bass, really anything that requires alot of pressure from the fingers.
God it sucks getting old!!
You young whipper snappers take note...TAKE CARE OF YOUR HANDS!!

[meev991]

oh believe me, i'm already feeling the pain

so, it looks like, i have another 15 years of bassplaying until i have to call it quits

[Sarbecue Boss]

You might try hand and forearm stretching religiously

[Lonnybass]

No problems with my hands (thank goodness) but I've been noticing more and more stiffness in my back and shoulder lately. Heating pads are a beautiful thing! I'm 29 and those 3+ hour sets are starting to cause some aches here and there that I never noticed before. I'd suggest hand and forearm stretching, but also adding some back/full body stretching as well.

Lonnybass

[Chili]

i stretch my hands usually every day anyway before i practice or jam etc, keeps them loose and relaxed, but i've snapped the G on my MM and have to practice with just 3 strings since i dont have enough for any more strings yet....bah

[EddieN]

Maybe finding yourself a nice shortscale? Couldn't hurt.

[lomo]

I'm 44 and definitely have to take good care of my machine-recommend stretching before playing, working on lightest touch possible with both hands. There is an alternative technique called the Alexander technique that can be very helpful as well-it's all about posture and breathing-I know very little about it, but many musicians use it (including Paul McCartney).

[DocBop]

I'll just say I got many years on you and no problems and don't think it an age think. There's Jazz and other players play into their 70's.

I would say it is a technique thing and speculating you don't play daily or near daily. I've heard of musicians young and old have smiliar issue and typically they are using too much pressure or tensing up. Also maybe trying to play even ten minutes a day would help keep those muscle active.

I would say talk to a doctor familiar with music injuries, or sports medicine if no one familiar with music technique. I would say consider making your bass easier to play lighter strings, lower action, lighter touch, and let the amp do more work for you than digging in. When I was in music school years ago we had a doctor familiar with musicians show some warmups to stretch and get blood to the fingers before playing.

[Funkster]

I would say it's your phyisical job that's wearing out your body parts. I'm 43 and worked in the Maintanence field all my life, Steel toe shoes the whole works. Tennis elbow from turning wrenches bad back from workboots and walking on concrete for 30 years you name it. I too wear warm cloths all the time when playing to keep body temp hot and my joints lubricated. I just play through the pain, It's what gives my playing an edge lol......

[mward69]

Yeah my job as an electrician does get to the hands, using tools, tristing wire nuts with large taps and so on...
One of my problems in which I am trying to stay on top of is I tend to play more aggressive live. I play almost everyday at home, and play lighter and kinda stand still. Live I tend to play really hard, move {don't like being a stump} and dance with the crowd.
The moving around part is fine, it's the harder playing that wears my arm and fingers out. Even though I try not too, guess the energy gets the best of me.

[Funkster]

Originally Posted by mward69

Yeah my job as an electrician does get to the hands, using tools, tristing wire nuts with large taps and so on...
One of my problems in which I am trying to stay on top of is I tend to play more aggressive live. I play almost everyday at home, and play lighter and kinda stand still. Live I tend to play really hard, move {don't like being a stump} and dance with the crowd.
The moving around part is fine, it's the harder playing that wears my arm and fingers out. Even though I try not too, guess the energy gets the best of me.

I totally understand the being in the moment thing
I also do the same thing,(Dancing, Headbangin, Jammin) I been to the Dr and My PIP tells me look you beat yourself up over the years, You work a physical job and you lug gear all the time plus DJD runs in the family...,. Your getting old he tells me. He also say's he's got guy's ten years younger than me in worse shape so be thankful I'm still mobile and able to do what I love!!! I just try to take my Glucocimine, Vitamins eat decently and always have Ibuprofen close by.. lol

[stingray69]

Is it your right forearm or left that suffers the most when playing? I'm guessing you've experimented with the height of your bass on the strap to maximize the playing comfort/playing angle of your forearms? Also a good setup that allows for a very low action would minimize the force required to fret notes. Another poster made a very good point - daily practice (even light practice) helps a lot to maintain flexibility & endurance. I'm 38 and (knock on wood) no issues with hands/forearms but I've followed all the above regiments since I've been playing (vitamins too, for what its worth). Maybe I'm just fortunate. Hope any of this helps brother.

[Pilgrim]

I suspect you're playing much too aggressively. It would probably help to turn up the amp a bit and use less finger pressure and less aggressive plucking technique. It would also help to get the bass adjusted to a playing position where your hands fall as naturally as possible, neither very high nor very low.

Also, make sure you're well hydrated. After a hard day's work I could see how you could easily start playing with your muscles on the edge of dehydration. Of course, stretching the hands and forearm muscles would probably help as well.

[Lesfunk]

I can't play my heavy basses anymore. ( It kills my back) (I'm 40) My sukop is nice and light (7 1/4 lbs) that does the trick.